Parking Downtown St. Louis
 

I am looking for parking options for downtown St. Louis. We are staying at the Majestic Hotel (formerly the Omni Majestic).

I have the Park Whiz app and can check garages with it. However, I just saw something today about on-the-street parking that commented it is free on Sunday.

Possibly, it would be cheaper to park on the street - if available - than to pay 24 hour rates in a garage.

Does anyone know what the meter rates are and if that sounds plausible?

I would never park on the street in downtown St. Louis. Pay to park in a guarded lot or garage; since the hotel has its own parking garage, I'd park there. This is one place where parking on the street is penny wise and pound foolish. I just wouldn't take the chance.

You might want to reconsider staying there. It was a nice hotel when I stayed there in 2007. However, there is no parking garage and I don't recall if the lot was guarded or gated. Since Omni departed, the hotel is a mess. Take a look at current reviews on TripAdvisor.

Doug - Does this mean that you wouldn't stay in a street lot that isn't manned 24 hours per day either? I saw a couple a few blocks from the hotel that were reasonably priced. Hotel parking is expensive so I was looking for other options.

Diane - I was also iffy when I read some of the current reviews. However we are going to a wedding across the street and all of our friends are staying there.

Traveler -- I checked in with my sister who lived in downtown St. Louis for five years until this past July (in apartments across from the Library on Olive Street). Her kids parked overnight on the street whenever they stayed the night -- certainly multiple times over the years. They never had a problem. She said to just remember to feed the meters until 7 pm and after 7 am.

I was in St. Louis in May and parked at the Holiday Inn's gated lot (you need a key for entry, it backs up onto another parking garage, and it is completely fenced with barbed wire at the top). I cannot say I felt completely comfortable with that set-up, but we backed the car into the space so the back couldn't be opened and hoped for the best. It was fine.

A few block away was an open pay parking lot. No one was there overnight, and while I think you could have paid through a machine, I simply wouldn't have done it. But I get that others feel more comfortable than I do. A lot of people in my neighborhood in NYC park overnight on the street and have no problems, but I never do.

It just depends on your comfort level. As others say, they have no problems. But I simply wouldn't do it. The deductible on a broken window is going to cost you more than the $20 extra you'll pay to park in a garage. To me, that's an easy call.

Thanks for the perspective.

Doug - Your "barbed wire" comment reminded me of a trip to Costa Rica. In areas, it seemed everyone's yards were surrounded with barbed wire topped fences. In one little town, a man with a lead pipe volunteered to watch our car for us. It was hard to say no to a man with a lead pipe. He was cheap at least. In any case, the barbed wire made us feel less safe rather than more safe.

I suppose we can call the hotel and get their perspective too.

Diane - Are the metered spots free between 7 PM and 7 AM?

Yes, they are free from 7 pm to 7 am. Monday thru Saturday and all day Sunday.